Reenie's Recipes - the dinner party recipe swap
 

Fresh Cranberry Beans with Swiss Chard

Posted by reeniek (291)
Category: Side Dishes
Subcategory: italian

 

Recipe Details:

Note: This is GREAT served as a main course topped with Duck Confit and mixed with fresh breadcrumbs. It's like an easy version of cassoulet. Also, I've used dried beans!

1 lb fresh cranberry beans in pods (2 cups beans already picked from the pods)
1/2 onion
8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed with the side of a knife
1 bay leaf
1 bunch Swiss Chard, thick middle stems removed and leaves chopped in half (to fit into the pot)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Fresh ground pepper

Place onion half, half of the crushed garlic cloves, bay leaf and salt in a medium saucepan filled with water. Bring to a boil and add beans. Simmer beans until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and discard onion, garlic and bay leaf. Spread beans onto a paper towel to dry.

Fill another medium saucepan with salted water and bring to a boil. Blanch the chard for 3 minutes. Drain chard. Between 2 layers of paper towels, dry the chard and chop into smaller pieces.

In a large pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add remaining garlic and sautee for 1 minute. Add dried beans and chard and sautee about 10 minutes, until bean skins are fried and crisp and chard is very wilted. Season with generously with salt and pepper.

Serves 4

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